Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-07-28
WATER AND MOTIVE POWER CUES.
TONS

Soclatlon on manufacturing interests OF the
city is considering proposition looking
10 the establishment of "Power Com
pany," the purpose of which shall be to
supply from central points cheap motive
power for small manufactures
This is very gratifying; it evidences
public spirit and commendable energy on
the part of the committee In cities
densely populated motive power companies
succeed, for manufactures occupy quar-
ters," or contiguous streets, so that power
can be easily transmitted, and so much
ayailed of as to make the investment profit
able. But in such city as this it
Will involve something more of difficulty,
because our manufactures cannot be
grouped nor even located upon few
streets. The small manufactures that viii
aid in building zap Sacramento will natur-
ally be scattered over large area, for
economic and other reasons.
But cheap motive power is very desirable
here. 1t may be supplied by steam, by
electricity for small machinesl and by
water. The latter is the cheapest. If our
situation is such that waste can be got rid
of economically and without further in
convenience, and the introduction can be
had at a cost leaving a small margin of
profit or if local supply can be utilized
for sufficient pressure as at Cleveland and
Chicago, then water power is by all odds
best. We have named conditions, because
they are advanced by some thoughtful citi-
liens as objections that cannot be over
come, while others are saBguine that thev
can be surmounted. Assuming that
they can be, let us see what would
result. Give us water pressure of from
sixty to one hundred pounds, and two
problems are solved instead of one. 1t
will enable every household, if it sees fit,
to have its water motor of from one to ten
horsepower, and duplication of motors
will give as much greater horsepower as
Is desired. Recent inventions have greatly
simpliiied and improved variety Of water
motors, in which waste of water is largely
prevented and greatly increased power OBJ
tanned In Amador county water motors
are so generally in use as to have almost
wholly displaced steam, but it is TO be
noted that there the source is near
and the carriage of water, through pipes.
short. They are there used for purposes
from the operation of sewing-machine or
dental lathe to the running of mills
presses, planners, quartz-crushers, foundry
blowers, etc. In New England motor
has come to the front very recently
that utilities the pressure direct, and
wholly does away with the play o. a
stream upon buckets, and hence largely
disposes Of the question of waste, and
there are other cheap motors of equal
virtue.
but while water pressure from noun
tain or local source would solve the cheap
motive-power question, and make man
utacturing in any part of the city
possible to men of small or great
means, it would, by the doing away
with steam engines and furnaces,
lessen insurance risks, and thus promote
economy of rates Moreover, it would
bring in its train other blessings that it is
admitted must flow from the introduction If
it is clear water. 1t would secure flushing
OF the sewers and drains that is now done
only at considerable expense and indifier
entity. The energy and capital that would
be necessary to establish steam or COM
pressed air or other motive power com
pany here, with sufficient central and
radiating means of communication. might
possibly be able to put the water-pressure
proposition into practical working for
the city, and insure double income to the
scheme for the municipality and treble
benefit to the people
The consideration of the question would
not be complete if the opposition we're ig-
nored. This, as voiced by portion of the
community, may be thus summarized
Most of the mountain lakes ON the Cali
iornia slope are not pure; there is in them
a sponge growth that absolutely fouls the
water and it win appear there in any
created basin. The emily clear water fit
therefore for use from such source is
that taken from the torrential streams, and
1t IS q the same quality-as that we now /
use, which Is better water than that fur
nished to any city in the Union.o
Moreover, TO transport mountain water
IN pipes viii involve a cost out of all pro- :
portion to the ability of the city to lear.
Ordinary sheet-ifon pipes have life of but
seven to twelve yesHs, as experience in the +
mountains prove. Steel is costly, an rusts
cut bat little later; castires. then, alone is